Cyberinfrastructure Building to "support education, research mission of entire university," McRobbie notes

$37 million, three-story structure to house tech staff of more than 600

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 29, 2010

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Declaring that Indiana University Bloomington's new Cyberinfrastructure Building (CIB) "reflects IU's status as a national IT leader," IU President Michael A. McRobbie joined a host of dignitaries and administrators today (April 29) in a ceremony breaking ground for IU's new, innovative headquarters for the university's technology staff.

Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie, left, IU Vice President for Information Technology Brad Wheeler and keynote speaker Diana Oblinger, president and CEO of EDUCAUSE, celebrate the groundbreaking of the university's new Cyberinfrastructure Building.

Before an audience of more than 300 guests, McRobbie described the $37 million, 123,000-square-foot facility at the corner of 10th Street and Indiana State Road 45/46 Bypass as the final piece in a quartet of IU information technology facilities that will fully leverage the university's IT resources by consolidating nearly all IT staff on the Bloomington campus into one facility.

"It is a functional space that will enable staff to collaborate more easily, share resources and generate ideas," he said. "Staff at the CIB will support the educational and research missions of the entire university, and the buildings themselves anchor the research and education corridor that runs to the west of the campus."

The CIB joins IU's $32.7 million Data Center and its $10 million Innovation Center, both dedicated in November, at the corner of 10th Street and the 45/46 Bypass as the foundation for the university's expanding technology park. The new building will offer 615 workspaces, 28 offices and three telepresence rooms for high-throughput videoconferencing with other campuses and collaborators.

Rendering courtesy of the IU Architect's Office and SmithGroup

An artist's rendering of the new IU Bloomington Cyberinfrastructure Building currently under construction at the northeast corner of 10th Street and the 45/46 Bypass.

The university's Informatics and Communications Technology Complex, dedicated in 2004 on the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis campus, is the fourth element in a quartet of buildings that provide "the infrastructure for talent, bringing together faculty, students, staff members, who, together, create something quite remarkable in terms of advancing the university's research efforts and in helping us attract private sector investment to this same location," McRobbie said.

IU Vice President for Information Technology Brad Wheeler said the new CIB provides a center for a deserving staff and student body who have long awaited a central, innovative facility.

"For years our University Information Technology Services (UITS) staff have worked with water dripping from above and water rising from below in severely aging and repurposed buildings," he said. "In many ways the many design choices for the CIB symbolize the evolving workforce that is very much exemplified by UITS staff -- the time-honored values of hard work, loyalty to IU and dedication, remain at the core; while flexibility, agility, innovation and collaboration grace those time-honored values to meet the growing IT demands of one of the nation's leading universities."

The building will include a commons space designed to be configured for conferences or symposia for up to 230 people, another 100 workstations -- barstools, perches and seats -- are configured along windows to provide space for IT commuters from other campuses. An additional 36 "focus booths" for staff or guests to conduct video interaction and small meetings are also planned.

It's also being built to make maximum use of available daylight for illumination and will meet a minimum silver LEED certification standard. The CIB is expected to be ready for occupancy by September 2011.